Psychology ETDs

Publication Date

4-21-1978

Abstract

This study was divided into two parts. Part I was designed to evaluate the external validity of a new hypnotic scale (the revised version of the Creative Imagination Scale), while also creating a plateau (base rate) of responding to hypnotic suggestions for Part II. Part II was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of various hypnotic inductions under plateau conditions. Fifty-two introductory Psychology students at The University of New Mexico were randomly assigned to 12 groups. In Part I these groups received either the Barber Suggestibility Scale (BSS) and the Stanford Hypnotic Suggestibility Scale: Form C (SHSS:C) or the revised Creative Imagination Scale (rCIS) and the SHSS:C. All scales were presented in counterbalanced order. In Part II the groups again received the SHSS:C but under Social Learning (SL), Task Motivational (TM), or Hypnotic Induction (HI) conditions. The modifications incorporated in the rCIS led to a substantial increase in external validity over that found for the original CIS. It also eradicated Wilson's previous findings of order effects in CIS comparisons. Part II revealed the superiority of SL over TM treatments under plateau conditions. However, SL was not superior to the HI treatment nor was the HI treatment superior to the TM condition. Implications of these findings for current theories of hypnosis and implications for future research in modifying suggestibility are discussed.

Degree Name

Psychology

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

Psychology

First Committee Member (Chair)

Norman Katz

Second Committee Member

Sidney Rosenblum

Third Committee Member

Thomas Patrick Friden

Fourth Committee Member

S. Brigham

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

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